Man Arrested for Obstructing Justice Enters Plea

A plea has been entered in the case of a Galesburg man arrested for Obstructing Justice during an investigation into a January death.

54-year old Randy Knotts appeared in Knox County Circuit Court yesterday for an arraignment hearing.

Knotts is accused of allegedly providing a false name to police during an interview following the death of 38-year old Shannon Porter.

The car that was thought to be driven by Porter slid off the road, and was partially submerged in water during the incident.

According to a press release Knotts had to be extricated from the vehicle that night, and when asked by investigators who was driving, Knotts allegedly said someone named “Shane” was in the driver’s seat.

Knox County Sheriff’s Detective Joe Simms has previously testified that Knotts claimed he couldn’t remember the driver’s name during two different interviews, but Porter was identified in a third interview.

Porter’s body was found days later in a field by those close to him and was later declared to have died of exposure by the Knox County Coroner.

Knotts is facing two counts of Obstructing Justice and entered a plea of not guilty during his hearing yesterday. He is being held in lieu of 50-thousand dollars bond.

Knotts will next be back in court in March, but has a pre-trial hearing scheduled May 5th.